NAZARETH DURING THE TIME OF JESUS

Eusebius wrote in his book, Onomasticon (c. 324-339), that Nazareth was about 15 milestones from Legio, that was an eastern journey from Legio towards Tabor.  Legio (a.k.a. Lejjun, Caparcotna) was a large town encompassing an area near the Megiddo prison and the ruins of Kephar Otnai to the south of Tel Megiddo.  On a modern map Nazareth was about 15 Roman miles from Legio by way of paved roads.  The ancient road from Legio towards Afula and Nazareth during the time of Eusebius was north of the modern road to Afula and parallel to it for some distance.  Roman Roads in Judea I, The Legio-Scythopolis Road, by Isaac and Roll, British Archaeological Reports (BAR), 1982, Oxford.  

Bellarmino Bagatti reported that during construction of shops along the Tiberias road there were found artifacts from the Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods outside of the central Franciscan area. These finds were unpublished until Bagatti reported them Excavations in Nazareth, Bagatti, 1969, pg. 237. The Tiberias road passed by within about a couple of blocks to the north-east of the the Church of the Annunciation.  A Franciscan guidebook indicated the Roman village of Nazareth was between the Church of Joseph and the Church of the Annunciation on a hill bounded by two valleys that are at this time partially filled in.  Tombs were located outside of towns during Roman and Talmudic times.  Hebrew tombs have been found to the N, S, and W of the ruins.  Guide to the Holy Land, E. Hoade, Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, 1976

Bagatti also reported Herodian lamp fragments from grottos and rock carved silos under the Franciscan churches and subterranean areas of church compounds. All types of pots, jugs, jars, plates, pans, bottles, etc. from the Roman and Byzantine periods were found on church grounds. There were also Hellenistic forms found on church grounds with photos of the Hellenistic- Roman series of lamps provided. Bagatti stated that the area was occupied before and after the first Jewish revolt (66-70 A.D.).  Herodian lamps and lamp fragments were distinctive in style and part of the evidence used to date the area.  The Jewish Herodian lamps were at the height of their popularity before the Jewish revolt.  After the Jewish revolt the Darom type lamp that was not wheel made, but mould made like other Roman lamps instead, was popular. 

In 2002 Archaeologist Stanislao Loffreda published drawings of a rare type of lamp unique to first century Galilee. The lamp was found in Nazareth, Capernaum, Magdala, and Karm er-Ras (near Cana).  The lamp was found in a datable strata in Capernaum.  Capernaum yielded numerous Roman coins to the excavators, thus the strata and context there was more readily understood.  This is additional evidence in support of the first century habitation of Nazareth. 

Display of artifacts found with first century "Jesus Boat" near Magdala on diplay at Kibbutz Ginnosar.

First century lamp of the type also found in Nazareth in Kibbutz Ginosar "Jesus Boat" Museum.   SIDE VIEW OF THIS LAMP

 Herodian Roman era spatulate lamps were also found in Nazareth.

Herodian spatulate lamps found in Jerusalem from the early Roman era on display at Ophel (2002) 

Josephus recorded that he fortified Japha (Yafia) [about 1.5 miles from modern Nazareth] before the first Jewish revolt. ARCHAEOLOGY, THE RABBIS, AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY, by James F. Strange. This would place Nazareth within the zone of early first century Jewish settlement.  Nazareth was outside of the walls of Yaphia off the main road to Sephoris.  

Julius Africanus wrote in the third century that there was a group of Christians living in Nazareth and Kochaba that were descended from the family of Jesus.  

Herodian Pottery from before 70 A.D. -- Jerusalem, Ophel area  (2006)

David Q. Hall

Israel Photos III